The park has a well-equipped camp kitchen with everything you need to cook up a feast, plus BBQ areas dotted around the grounds. We loved that it's big enough not to feel crowded, even when the park's full, and it's positioned nicely if you want to keep an eye on the kids while prepping dinner. There's also a kiosk on-site for essentials and those things you inevitably forget to pack.

When you're ready to venture out, central Ballina is a five-minute walk away and there's genuinely excellent eating within easy reach. The Belle General is our pick for breakfast — just across from Shelly Beach, it's a casual spot serving Allpress coffee and seriously good food with gluten-free and dairy-free options available. The vibe is relaxed, the portions are generous, and the banana in their smoothies comes from nearby Uralba Valley.

For something a little more special, Capiche sits right over Lighthouse Beach with sweeping ocean views and wood-fired pizzas that are worth the short drive to East Ballina. The crab linguine and wild boar ragù are standouts, and if you time it right, you might spot dolphins while you're eating. It also has a kiosk for coffee and brunch (Open Wed-Sun) under thatched umbrellas on the beachfront lawn.

The Wharf Bar & Restaurant on the Richmond River is perfect for sunset drinks and dinner — the wood-fired pizzas and fresh seafood are excellent, and the view over the water as the sun goes down is one of the best in the region. They also do a cracking espresso martini if that's your thing. Shelly Beach Cafe is another solid option for ocean-view dining, with reliable Australian fare and great coffee.

The park is brilliantly positioned for exploring Ballina on foot. It's a quick stroll across the road to the Ballina Memorial Pool and Waterslides, which the kids will love — two giant slides, heated pools, and a splash park for little ones. The whole complex sits right on the Richmond River and there's a kiosk if you want to grab lunch there.

Walk five minutes into central Ballina and you'll find cafes, boutiques, and the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, which has the largest collection of model naval and merchant ships in Australia. It's surprisingly absorbing, even if you're not usually a museum person. Just beyond town, the boat ramp gives you direct access to the Richmond River for fishing or launching a kayak — the river is teeming with bream, whiting, and flathead.

Shelly Beach is about a five-minute drive (or a 20-minute walk along the river), and it's a beauty — patrolled in summer, with an ocean rock pool at the southern end and a stroller-friendly path that runs all the way to Lighthouse Beach. The whole stretch is backed by shady pines and has that classic Australian beachfront feel. Lighthouse Beach itself is perfect for surfers and swimmers, and there's a lookout at Ballina Head with sweeping views up and down the coast.

If you're up for a scenic drive, head 10 minutes north to Lennox Head and walk up to Pat Morton Lookout — it's a half-hour coastal boardwalk from the village or a quick five-minute drive, and the views over Seven Mile Beach and out to the Pacific are worth every step. During whale season (June to November), this is one of the best vantage points on the coast. Byron Bay is only 30 minutes up the road if you want to explore the Cape Byron Lighthouse or catch the vibe in town.

The park is right in town, so you'll hear a bit of road noise during the day — but it's surprisingly quiet at night and the trade-off is being able to walk everywhere.